Chapter 1054

At this moment, a great many lights of various colors burst forth.

Zhao Chi saw his status bar fill with all manner of high-level buffs—several dozen of them.

The horses were also massively strengthened.

The caravan sped up once again.

Zhao Chi gripped the reins tight—at this speed, if he fell, he'd probably lose half his life.

Looking at the system's status bar, he could see four buffs increasing speed in total.

Two were wind-element spiritual techniques, one was a support spiritual technique, and one was a lightning-element spiritual technique.

Besides that, the horses' stamina recovery speed had also greatly increased, letting them run far longer.

"Roar—!!"

In the sky, a sudden roar sounded.

Then came the sound of beating wings.

Over a dozen griffins rushed up from behind, swept over Zhao Chi's head, and charged forward.

On each griffin sat a female elf.

The elves' eyes gleamed with light as they carefully scanned their surroundings.

Zhao Chi didn't know what it was, but it was surely a scouting-related skill—perhaps something like night vision or eagle eye?

At this moment, two more squads of cavalry appeared.

Each rider's eyes likewise glowed, and a white orb of light floated above each of their heads.

Those riders scattered, following far off on both sides of the caravan.

Zhao Chi's field of vision immediately broadened greatly; he could see much farther on both sides now.

He looked back.

He noticed every carriage had more people on it—originally around 700, now surely over 1,000.

Quite a few were casting skills.

All manner of spiritual power lights flashed without cease.

Tieshan glanced left and right, then sat down satisfied.

The goblin beside him looked past Zhao Chi toward the male elf in the middle: "Hey, Jadan, why'd you come over first? Where's Lu Si?"

The male elf said flatly: "Dead."

The goblin said in surprise: "Dead? When?"

"Yesterday. Got her throat torn out by a blood-oath werewolf."

"Why didn't you protect her?"

"What do you mean we didn't protect her? War is the kind of thing where you protect someone just because you want to? Don't be naive."

The goblin said no more, a hint of sorrow in his pupils.

Zhao Chi was still completely baffled.

Where had all these people come from?

Could they have been summoned from his territory?

While he was thinking, the goblin looked up at Zhao Chi: "Goblins can also pursue female elves."

A completely out-of-the-blue remark…

"Of course…"

Zhao Chi could only nod.

The goblin sighed: "But the world is fickle, and there's nothing to be done about it. I'm Aike, and you?"

"I'm… Zhao Chi."

"Zhao Chi? Whenever I hear human names I always think about their meaning. What's the meaning of yours? Always late?"

Zhao Chi's face was blank with confusion.

The goblin called Aike laughed: "What? Scared you? How's my sense of humor?"

Zhao Chi sighed: "Aike, your human-language skills are actually this impressive."

Aike laughed: "Yeah, but what I'm best at is elvish. Want me to teach you a few phrases?"

"Elvish?" Zhao Chi said, surprised: "Don't elves speak the human language?"

Aike waved his thin green arm: "You're talking about those tamed elves. I'm talking about real elves, like dark elves."

Zhao Chi refused: "No need, I won't have any use for it."

Aike laughed: "How would you not have use for it? Aren't you going to Dark Night City too? Not visiting the Red Mansion? Not finding a few little dark-elf sisters to play with?"

At this moment, Tieshan turned his head:

"Hahaha, Aike, forget it. Zhao Chi's looks are considered pretty good among humans—no need for elvish to win hearts."

Aike sighed: "Sometimes I really envy you guys. Whether human or beastfolk, you're all fine. Too bad I'm a goblin, born short—I can only rely on potions…"

Tieshan laughed: "It's all the same. Potions work too—as long as you can really rise to the occasion at the critical moment. Throw two more light orbs ahead, the brightness up front isn't enough."

Aike raised his hand.

Two light orbs flew far ahead, like carriage lamps, illuminating the distance.

Zhao Chi asked politely: "Captain Tie, are these all heroes from your territory?"

Tieshan gave a thumbs-up and pointed behind: "Jadan is. Aike is Captain Mo's hero—Captain Mo is commanding from the middle of the convoy."

Zhao Chi asked again: "Here, can we freely summon them out?"

Tieshan pointed to the side.

"Of course! Don't you see what kind of place this is? No one governs the spatial rift. We do whatever's convenient—there aren't any goddamn rules or laws."

"Understood."

"So, you get it now?"

"Get what?"

Tieshan said, displeased: "Why are you so slow on the uptake? Ike, tell him!"

Ike laughed and said: "Zhao Chi, you've never seen a dark elf, so you don't know how wonderful they are. Their skin is as fine as black velvet, and their bodies are as soft as a Shi Laimu…"

Zhao Chi listened, his head swelling: "I get it, you don't have to say more."

Ike shook his head: "You don't get it."

"I really get it."

"You really don't get it."

Zhao Chi said helplessly: "Then go on."

Ike sat up straight: "You think we do it just for desire?"

If not that, then what?

Could it be to learn a foreign language?

Zhao Chi thought this in his heart, but asked aloud: "Then what is it for?"

Ike sighed:

"Those dark elves are actually very pitiful. Although Nightfall City is their city, more than half of it has already been occupied by other races.

"Although everyone says Nightfall City is very free, what the actual situation is, you must certainly know.

"Gangs everywhere, a chaotic mix, many criminals hide out here, every race has its forces here. They call it freedom, but it's actually chaos.

"If they could, who would let their homeland become like this?

"The dark elves' living space has been squeezed out; they simply have no way to survive.

"So they can only sell themselves in places like the Fallen Red Tower just to keep living.

"If we don't go, they lose a bit of income, and life becomes even harder for them.

"Tell me, should we go or not?"

Zhao Chi was nearly dizzy.

This goblin kept spouting twisted logic, but for the moment Zhao Chi couldn't find any flaw in it.

But arguing these things with him was pointless.

Everyone has their own way of life; there's no need for him to meddle, and he couldn't manage others anyway.

Zhao Chi nodded: "Mm, we should."

Ike laughed and said: "Exactly, that's how it is. This is for you."

He took out a small blue diamond-shaped pill from his coat pocket.